Security officers for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System detained five teenage boys during the past two weeks for 277 graffiti tags that caused $25,000 in damage, transit officials said.

San Diego police cited all five, but one was arrested because he was on probation. The others were released to their parents.

The teens were caught tagging MTS property in San Diego and National City, including trolleys, electrical boxes, bus stop signs and hand rails. They used spray paint, markers and ballpoint pens, MTS spokesman Rob Schupp said Wednesday.

A county database that tracks graffiti was used in the investigation. All cities in the county, the county government, MTS, North County Transit District and the Port of San Diego use the system.

“This bust shows that the regional graffiti program we launched last year is having a tremendous impact,” county Supervisor Greg Cox said.

ashly mcglone • U-T

Deputy guilty of driving impaired and misdemeanor hit-and-run

riverside

A San Diego County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday in Riverside County Superior Court to misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving under the influence charges.

Barbara Jean Crozier, 48, has been on paid administrative assignment since her Aug. 30 arrest in Palm Desert.

According to court filings, Crozier was driving an SUV when she was involved in a minor traffic collision on Highway 74. She drove from the scene into the parking lot of an apartment complex, where she struck several parked vehicles and ran over a pedestrian’s foot.

Crozier again left the scene, authorities said. The SUV then crashed into a water fountain several miles away, in front of a country club.

She was released on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be sentenced March 20.

ashly mcglone • U-T

Man wanted for attempting to rob taco shop and possibly two people

national city

Police are looking for a man who tried to rob a taco shop and may be responsible for two other attempted robberies.

The man walked into Roberto’s Taco Shop on Highland Avenue at 14th Street about 2:40 a.m. Wednesday and ordered food from the lone employee, police Sgt. Julian Villagomez said. He then took out a large knife and ordered the cook to hand over cash.

The worker refused and armed himself with a knife. After a short standoff, the would-be robber ran off.

As officers were investigating, a man drove up and said he was the victim of an attempted robbery about 1 a.m. near D Avenue and East 24th Street, Villagomez said. Another pedestrian reported an attempted robbery in the same area about midnight.

The suspect in all three incidents was described as a tall, thin Latino in his mid- to late-20s. No vehicle was seen.

Debbi Baker • U-T

Driver in La Mesa loses control, veers downhill before crashing

Shortly after 12:20 p.m., the man was backing the car out of his driveway when it proceeded to cross the street and crash into a neighbor’s vehicle. He then put the car in drive and went back across, passing between the driver’s house and a neighbor’s house, police said.